Foldable grease gun



: Spt. 12, 1933. c. w. PARKER 1,926,496

FOLDABLE GREASE GUN Filed March 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Sept. 12 1933. PARKER 1,926,496

FOLDABLE GREASE GUN Filed March 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE GREASE GUN Clark W. Parker, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Lubrication Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation Delaware Application March 2, 1929. Serial No. 343,952

12 Claims.

This invention has reference to the art of lubrication, and particularly relates to a high pressure,

grease g-in or compressor which is foldable into small compass for storage, transportation and packing when not in use, said gun being'adapted for the lubrication of machinery bearings and various other purposes, the lubricant being supplied under continuous pressure automatically, and periodically, as may be required, having high pressure applied thereto. My gun or compressor of the present invention is adapted to supply either oil or grease of varying density or thickness. Among the objects of my invention may be noted the following: To provide a grease gun 01' compressor which is foldable in small compass when not in use for packing and transportation purposes; to provide a gun or compressor with a grease-carrying barrel and a booster parallel 3 therewith, including a small cylinder and nozzle,

and means connecting theobooster with the barrel of such nature that the connecting means may be separated from the booster and folded against the gun; to provide a grease gun or compressor with a large barrel for holding the grease and with a comparatively small delivery spout and booster, and manipulating means which may be detached from the booster and folded against the spout and frictionally retained in that position; to provide a grease gun or compressor of the kind noted in the foregoing which isefficient,

strong, durable, easily assembled and dismantled, made of few parts whichare economical to build, and the parts of which may be made of light castings or drawn metals, which is composed of two principal assemblies readily associated and dissociated; and which can be easily repaired or the parts thereof ,replaced economically; to provide a greasegun or compressor in which the lubricant is constantly under pressure and is constantly and automatically fed to the delivery tube or conduit, in which latter the said lubricant may be subjected, as required or desired, to high pressure manually imposed, and which gun is of :large capacity, readily filled from the usual containers found on the market; ,and to provide a combination of means adapted for the uses and purposes outlined in the foregoing which can be easily handled and which enables a firm and strong grip to be applied thereto during use. with the above objects in view, and others which will be detailed during the courseof this description, my invention consists in the parts, features, elements and combinations thereof hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have provided drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view showing the details of my grease gun or compressor, parts being broken away because of the limitations of the sheet, and parts being shown in dotted lines in order to illustrate different positions thereof; 1

Figure 2- is an end view, looking at the right end of Figure 3, showing the parts folded into,

small compass for packing and transportation purposes, or for-ease of handling;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of my compressor or gun shown in the position of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3 and Figure 6 is a view in cross-section on the irregular line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the gun barrel or grease shell, 2 the delivery tube or spout, 3 the closure or cover, 4 the plunger or booster, and 5 the actuating handle or lever which is detachably connected to the booster rod, as hereinafter described, and which may be folded into close relation with the gun or compressor, as shown in Figures 2,3, 4 and 5. The closure or cover 3 is provided with an extension 6 affording a support for a double link structure having a square U form, and the legs '7 of which a e,pivotally mounted onthe support 6 through th \medium of a pivot pin 8, the support at the point where the pivot pin 8 is passed therethrough being broadened or flattened, as indicated at 9,

for the purpose of affording a firm and extensive bearingfor the pin, and also for the purpose of forming extensive end abutments for the parallel link arms I to prevent the said link from sagging or swinging laterally. Beyond the support 6 is applied a knob 10 forming the head of a tie-rod 11, the head being riveted to said rod or. secured in any other suitable manner to said rod, the latter at its inner end being screwthreaded as at 12, and extended into a threaded. socket in an enlarged portion of the delivery spout 2, said enlarged portion, indicated at 13, being recessed for the reception of the outer end of the barrel 1. The tie-rod passes through the support 6, the cover 3 and the barrel 1, and enters the socket '14 for the purpose of holding all the parts rigidly together. The threaded portion 12 of the tie-rod is slightly reduced in diameter and has threaded thereon a spider 15 which acts as a guide for the tie-rod, for the purpose of centering the latter and causing it to readily enter the socket. The spider slides freely within the barrel 1 when the rod is withdrawn, and is prevented from going any further into the recess of 13 by the shoulder 16, the spider being thus prevented from closing orinterfering with the passage 17 into the delivery tube. The barrel 1 is preferably brazed or soldered into the enlargement of the delivery spout so as to become a rigid portion thereof and a part of the assembly. The spider also has the function of returning the piston 18 to the outer end of the barrel 1 when the latter has been exhausted of grease, it being understood that the piston 18 is normally under high pressure .of the spring 19 enclosed by the closure 3 and centered by and surrounding the thimble 20 at rest upon the piston 18, the inner end of the spring resting on the flange of the thimble and the outer end of the spring being held by the outer end of the closure 3. The barrel 1 has a short" outtumed lug 21 entering a slot 22 in the flange of the closure whereby the closure is firmly held in its relation to the barrel. The closure also has the cylindrical extension 23 at one side thereof, through which the enlarged outer portion of the plunger rod passes. A cylinder 24 surrounds the plunger rod and is held in position by tubular extensions on the member 23 and on the member 25 of the spout. A reduced tubular extension 26 also guides the plunger rod 4 for steady action, and may be utilized for the support of a spring enclosed by the cylinder 24 and surrounding the rod 4. Such spring is not. shown, however, as it is not essential to the operation of the plunger rod, it being rather desirable to omit the same for reasons which will be obvious in the following description. The plunger rod is provided with a stop-pin 27 to prevent the rod from being drawn outwardly too far. It will be obvious, upon inspection of Figure 1, that the barrel 1, the spout 2 and its parts constitute one assembly, while the closure 3, support 6, tierod 11, head 10, link 7, spider 15 and-piston 18,

' together with the lever presently described. and

plunger rod 4 form another assembly.

' The manipulating lever 5 is pivotally mounted at 28 to the link 7 and is U-shaped incross-section, as shown in the various figures. The pivotal end of the lever is embraced by the base of the link and swings within'the same, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Near its pivotal support, the lever is provided with a pair of wing extensions 29 provided with depressions 30 approached by grooves 31. The extensions 29 are resilient and are adapted to snap around and firmly engage a spherical end 32 of the plunger rod 4, said spherical end being preferably integral with a detachable collar 33 pinned as at 35 to the end of the plunger rod, which end is reduced and flattened, if desired, as at 34, to afford a firm seat for the collar 33. A readily attachable and separable connection is produced by the means just described between the plunger rod and the actuating lever 5 for the purposes presently described. As clearly shown, the lever 5 is approximately U-shaped in cross-section and has, at its free end, a pair of spring arms 36 adapted to embrace the enlargement 3'7 on the outer end of the spout 2, this end being threaded internally for connection of the hose which carries the coupling adapted to be applied to the fitting at the end of the gland into which the grease is forced for lubricating a bearing. When the lever 5 is detached from the ball 32, the lever can high pressure on the grease column, the handle is released from the enlargement 37 by pressure upon the outturned arms 36, and the wings 29 are snapped over the ball 32, the latter entering the sockets 30 and being led thereto by the guide grooves 31. This, as will be observed, is a very quick' mode of connection between the lever and the booster rod and, when made, is a very firm connection enabling the booster rod to be reciprocated for high pressure purposes. When the handle 5 is in the position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the plunger rod will be pushed intothe bearings therefor and held, for transportation purposes or other handling, in the position shown in Figure 3 by the link 7. The dotted line representations in Figure 1 show the position of the lever both when at the extreme inward movement of the lever engaged with the plunger rod, and also in a position of separation from the plunger rod.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the parts are assembled by entering the tie-rod 11 with its piston 18, thimble 20 and spring 19 into the barrel 1, the spiderat the outer end of the rod sliding snugly in the barrel, enabling the threaded end of the tic-rod to readily find the threaded socket 14. Simultaneously with the foregoing, the lug 21 enters the slot 22 in the flange 23 of the cover, and the plunger 4 and cylinder 24 are readily slid into the position shown in Figure 1. When the parts are all in the position indicated, the head 10 of the tie-rod 11 is manipulated to screw the rod into the socket 14 and thus securely bind all the parts together. It will be understood that, when the barrel 1 is empty, the piston 18 will be at rest against the spider at the outer end of the rod, and the spring 19 will be expanded to its fullest extent. The

parts can now be dissociated for the purpose of filling the barrel by manipulating the knob 10 and unscrewing the end of therod from the socket 14. When the rod is released, it will be drawn outwardly, the spider engaging the piston, and allparts being prevented from separation.

by the'spider and the nut 10.v The pull of the spider upon the piston is transmitted through the spring to the end of the cover 3, so that theend of the barrel is forced into the can of grease until the barrel is approximately filled. Then the tie-rod 11 with its spider and other parts, including the cover, are replaced, the spider, rod, piston and other parts going readily into place until the two main assemblies are coupled together by screwing the tie-rod into the socket 14, as shown in Figure 1. With the barrel full of grease, the piston will be forced backwardly along the tie-rod 11 compressing the spring, and the two assuming the position shown in Figure 1. In this relation of parts, and with the usual hose or conduit with valved coupling applied to the spout-end37, the piston under spring pressure will be in condition to continuously and automatically force a stream of grease or other lubricant into the passage 17, through which it can be forced under high pressure to unseat the seal in the coupling, and also in the fitting, ,so that the grease can be injected into the bearings and into or onto other parts to be lubricated. If undue resistance is found to exist in the travel of the grease through the conduit and fitting, the plunger or booster can be used to overcome the resistance and break the seal in the line of feed by quick or forceful movements of the lever 5. With the parts shown assembled as in Figure l, the barrel is held in the palm of the hand, the fingers passing around the cylinder 24, thus enabling the user to obtain, or hold the compressor in, such a strong grip as to eliminate any possibility of the compressor slipping in the hand when the booster is manipulated as suggested. Very high pressure can be imposed upon the mass of grease in the barrel 1 for normal feeding purposes; but, extraordinary high pressure can be imposed upon the rod 4 by mere pressure thereon through the medium of the lever 5, which pressure may be very greatly increased for grease boosting purposes by heavy blows upon the lever 5, or by the imposition of great pressure upon the outer end of said lever. Inassembling, the spider 15 on the end of the tie-rod 11 will readily pass through the body of grease in the barrel 1, due to the large'openings in the spider and the legs thereof, which practically cut their way through the body of grease.

The lever can very readily and easily-be snapped into connection with the booster rod, when the or boosting purposes.

,spring may be inclosed in the cylinder 24 surlatter is in the position of Figure 3, by pressing the socket members against the ball 32 on the end of the plunger rod 4. The plunger can then be withdrawn from its cylinder to the extent required by the lever for pumping As previously stated, a

rounding the plunger rod 4, or the same may be omitted; the spring is preferably omitted to enable the plunger rodto be shifted to its foremost position by the lever, as shown in Figure 3, when said lever is to be separated from said rod. To separate the lever from the rod, the latter is moved to the position of Figure 3, held there by the fingers of one hand, and the lever moved outwardly, whereupon the friction between the ball 32 and wings 30 is overcome. The handle and supporting link can then be shifted to the position of Figure 3 and frictionally held there by snapping the members 36over the enlargement 37.

It will beseen that my gun is light and strong and; being slender, can be firmly gripped and held while in use and can be presented closely to the machinery for service, if required; and my gun can be manipulated by one hand until the booster effects are required. It is to be noted.

also that my gun has no exposed, fragile or frangible parts, that it may be thrown about with impunity, and that dirt, dust and grit cannot penetrate nor injure it. The gun can be made of any capacity according to the use or service to which it is to be applied, or is in contemplation; that is to say, the gun may be made of a made of a much larger size and placed on a truck so that it may be wheeled aboutan extensive service station'for frequent use in servicing cars, trucks, etc.

When it is desired to pack, ship, place the gun in the tool kit, or carry it conveniently, the lever 5 will be separated from the plunger rod and folded against the body of the gun. The foldable type of gun is very convenient and can be readily placed ina carton for transportation, or with a number of others for expressing or for mailing. The leverage enables very high pressure to be imposed upon the plunger rod 4.

The closure 3 and the support 6 are preferably rigidly held together by a rivet passing through the support and through the closed end of the closure, as shown in Figure l and indicated at 38.

The slot 22 in the closure acts as a vent when the piston is entered into the barrel 1 and the spring is being compressed.

The booster consists of the plunger rod 4, cylinder 24 and tubular extensions 25 and 26 of the spout 2.

The lever 5 mounted on the support 6 forms a tie between the barrel and the booster.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable lubricating gun comprising a grease receptacle having a delivery spout mounted thereon at one end, a plunger operating in the spout, a link pivotally secured to the receptacle at its other end, a lever pivotally secured to the link, and means detachably securing the lever to the plunger, said link being of a length sufiicient to extendacross the end of the gun to which it is secured, whereby said lever when detached from said plunger may be folded down against and into substantially parallel relation to the spout in which the plunger operates.

2. A lubricating. gun comprising a grease receptacle having a delivery spout mounted thereon at one end and parallel therewith, a plunger operating in the spout, a U-shaped lever pivotally mounted on the receptacle at its other end, means detachably connecting the lever and plunger, the connecting means between .the lever and receptacle enabling the lever to be swung into close relation with the delivery spout.

3. A lubricatingjgun havingthe characteristic features of claim 2, wherein the lever is provided with a yielding frictional device for coupling the lever to the spout when the former is swung into engagement with the latter.

4. A lubricating gun having the characteristic featuresof claim 2, wherein the detachable connecting means includes a ball on the end of the plunger and a spring socket on the lever.

5. A lubricating gun comprising a grease receptacle having a delivery spout mounted therei such, and so extended, as to enable it to snugly 1 engage the delivery spout.

6. A lubricating gun comprising a grease receptacle, a booster mounted on the receptacle in parallelism therewith and including a plunger, a

lever for actuating the plunger, means including 1 a link pivotally connecting the lever with the receptacle, and means detachably connecting the lever with the plunger, said lever and link being so constructed and arranged that when the gun is not in use the lever may be detached from 1 said plunger and folded snugly against the boostthe end of the holder at one side thereof, a

' plunger cylinder of comparatively small diamplunger operating in the cylinder and nozzle, a

lever U-shaped in cross-section pivotally mounted at one end of the holder, and means for pivotally and detachably securing the lever to the plunger, whereby, when the lever is detached from the plunger, it may be snugly folded against said cylinder, the channel side of said lever be-e ing disposed toward and partially encompassing said cylinder when folded thereagainst.

8. A grease gun having, in combination, a. frame consisting of a receptacle at one end, a spout extended from said end, a closure at the other end, a barrel for grease having both ends open and held, respectively, in the receptacle and the closure, a tie-rod holding the barrel and the closure to said frame, means automatically operating in the closure and barrel for creating pressure upon the grease in the latter, a plunger mounted in the spout, a lever pivotally connected to one end of the gun and detachably connected to the plunger, and means connecting the lever to the gun whereby, when said lever is detached from the plunger, it may be folded against the spout.

9. A grease gun comprising, a low pressure open 3 ended cylinder of relatively large volume; an

open ended cylinder of relatively small diameter disposed-alongside of and substantially parallel to said low pressure cylinder; a single member at once forming a closure for the low pressure cylinder and a support for the small cylinder at adjacent ends of said cylinders at one end of each, a high pressure chamber substantially in alignment with said cylinder of small diameter, said closure member providing a passageway between said low pressure cylinder and the high pressure chamber and an outlet from the latter; a second closure member at once forming a closure for the other end of the low pressure cylinder anda support for the adjacent end of said small cylinder; a high pressure piston for said high pressure chamber; means passing through said small cylinder and through said second clo sure for operating said piston, a-lever for actuating said high pressure piston, said lever being constructed and arranged so as to be detached from said piston and to lie alongside said small cylinder in embrasure thereof, a follower in said low pressure cylinder; and means for securing said closures together with said cylinders clamped therebetween.

10. A lubricating gun comprising a barrel, a high pressure cylinder secured relative to and alongside said barrel substantially in parallel relation thereto, said cylinder having an outlet therefrom and connecting with said barrel at one end of the barrel through an inlet passage, a closure for the other end of said barrel, a link having one end pivotally associated with said closure to one side of the axis of said barrel relatively remote from the axis of said cylinder, said link being of a length sufficient to extend over the end of said closure toward the axis of said cylinder, a lever pivotally secured to the other end of said link, a piston operative in said cylinder, and a detachable connection between said piston and lever at a place removed from said link, said lever'and link being so arranged that the lever when detached from said piston may be folded snugly against the side of the gun.

11. In combination with a portable lubricating gun having a large grease receptacle, a c0mpara-' tivelysmall receptacle mounted on the large receptacle in parallel relationship therewith and with its axis offset from the axis of the large receptacle, a link pivotally mounted at one end of the large receptacle in diametrically opposed relation across the axis of the large'receptacle' from the small receptacle, said link being of sufficient length to extend across the end of the large receptacle and to overhang one end of the small receptacle, and a U-shaped lever pivotally secured to the link at a portion of the latter which would overhang the small receptacle, said lever having its channel side directed toward the small receptacle and being so constructed and ,arranged that when it and the link are moved about their pivots with the link extending across the end of the large receptacle the lever may lie substantially parallel to the axes of the two receptacles and may embrace the small receptacle in part.

12. A portable lubricating gun comprising a grease receptacle and a pressure boostercylinder mounted thereon with its axis parallel the axis of the grease receptacle, a piston in said cylinder, a U-shaped lever pivotally mounted on the receptacle at one end, and means detachably securing the lever to the piston whereby the lever when detached from the piston-may be folded snugly along, about and against said booster cylinder;

' CLARK W. PARKER. 

